Outdoor Business
Bachelor of Arts Major
Do you dream of running a business in the outdoor adventure field, such as a rafting guide program, an adventure camp for kids, a survival skills school for adults, or an outdoor gear business? You can tailor your degree to your dreams as you choose from skill certifications and classes in project management, marketing, finance, product development, and leadership as well as climbing, backpacking, paddling, and more.
With these new skills, you won’t just learn about your future career, you’ll do it hands-on, through internships and research in the field. With countless opportunities surrounding our campus in the greater Asheville region, you could design a new product, intern with a local outdoor camp, or even develop a sustainability initiative for the county.
Our alumni have gone on to careers creating innovative outdoor wear, opening a bike shop, managing sales for a kayak company, and operating a fishing lodge.
Why Outdoor Business at Warren Wilson?
- Sustainable Business: Our program integrates Outdoor Leadership with sustainable Business practices. You’ll gain skills in both business management and environmental stewardship, prepared to lead in sustainability—an essential value in the growing outdoor and adventure industry.
- A Prime Location: Located near Asheville, NC, we offer access to one of the country’s most vibrant outdoor and adventure tourism areas. Our region’s dynamic business environment is ripe with opportunities for internships, networking, and industry collaborations, giving you a competitive edge in the outdoor business world.
- Leadership Development: You’ll hone your leadership in real-world outdoor environments and gain hands-on experience in trip planning, risk management, group dynamics, decision-making under various conditions, and more. Our graduates stand apart as both business-savvy and field-experienced leaders.
Every student will complete community-engaged coursework, an internship and original research as part of their major
A Sample of Our Partnerships
- French Broad River Academy
- Mountain BizWorks
- WWC Farm General Store
See how Outdoor Business students put our education into action
Internship
As an intern with the Minnesota State Parks Naturalist Corps, Ahna Webster interacted with park and trail visitors of all ages. She presented recreational and educational programs under the mentorship of a parks and trails naturalist and gained experience in display development, new technology, resource management, and park and trail operations.
Work
You can work on any crew as a student but many Outdoor Business majors choose to be on crews such as:
- Adventure Programs
- Business
- Farm
- Athletics
- Student Activities
Study Away
Iceland’s approach to sustainable tourism is globally recognized. In this study away course, students explore the balance between environmental conservation and the demands of a rapidly growing tourism industry. By combining pre-departure academic preparation, immersive on-site experiences in Iceland, and reflective activities, this course fosters an interdisciplinary understanding of global tourism challenges and solutions.
Senior Capstone
In their Capstone Project, “In the Internet Age, Should Second Gear Abandon E-Commerce?” Max Buyck, Lynn Hilbert, and Aria Hanson worked with Second Gear — an alumni owned outdoor consignment store located near the River Arts District of Asheville, NC — to evaluate the Return on Investment of their online store. They researched and assessed all contributing factors and made a recommendation to Second Gear, also looking into alternative marketing methods that they could employ to maintain a strong online presence beyond their online store.
Community Engaged Course
Through classroom discussion and direct community engagement in the field, you’ll explore the intersections of community development and land management. Working with different local communities, you’ll understand the social, environmental, and economic complexities involved in using the Outdoor Economy as a driving force behind business decisions.
Popular Courses
Challenge Course Facilitation & Management
Learn how to manage and facilitate exercises on challenge courses for your peers and members of the wider community. These courses challenge groups to climb heights and support each other through a variety of games. You may be carrying a 10 foot long tube filled with water through obstacles, helping facilitate your peers, or getting a ball to the top of the course!
Management of Outdoor Programs
In this course, you’ll explore topics that impact outdoor businesses, such as public relations, strategic planning, liability, risk management, and economic development. You’ll hear guest speakers from local outdoor businesses speak in class, and you’ll have many opportunities to engage with our community partners — all to help you better understand how the outdoor economy impacts our area.
Sustainable Business Practices
Sustainable business practices are incredibly important to protect our planet. In this class, you’ll examine why and how businesses are addressing environmental and sustainability issues across sectors and industries. By the end of the class, you’ll be able to evaluate the sustainable practices of an organization and discern their impact on people, the planet, and profit.
Justinn Steffe, MBA
Research Interests
- Behavioral Finance
- Real Estate Finance
- Diversity and Inclusion within College and Professional Sports
“This is a community where students, faculty and staff can explore a wide range of interests. It’s exciting to work with students on issues where they are passionate and help them fuse these interests with education, community engagement and work experience.”
Jill Overholt, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Health and Natural Landscapes
- Experiential Education in higher education contexts
- Parent-child relationship development through outdoor adventure
“It is through Warren Wilson students that my impact in this world is both magnified and transformed. I feel very fortunate to be a part of such an idealistic, compassionate, and hard-working community.”
Matt Vosler, Ph.D
Research Interests
- Creativity Development
- Mental Health and the Outdoors
- Compassion and Empathy Development
“Out of all of the schools and places I have had the honor to work, I have never experienced a sense of community like Warren Wilson. Not only is the campus beautiful, the community support and atmosphere here is unparalleled! I am happy to say that I have found my home! ”
Wendy Seligmann, MBA
Research Interests
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Sustainable Business
- Conscious Capitalism
“Warren Wilson students are drawn to lives of purpose. There is nothing I love more than helping a student find ways to connect their head and heart, that is, to discover how they want to make meaning and change in the world.”
Jack Igelman, MS
Research Interests
- Climate change
- The economics of public land and forests
- The economics of less developed nations
“The commitment by Warren Wilson staff and faculty to provide our students with meaningful, hands-on learning is unmatched in higher education. Our approach provides students an opportunity to explore, create, and think critically about the world and to become well-rounded thinkers, problem-solvers, and innovators. ”
Mallory McDuff, Ph.D.
Research Interests
- Involving faith communities in climate action
- Integrating local communities into environmental education
“The best part of the job is watching students graduate with a strong portfolio of experiences and find meaningful work connecting people to places.”
“WWC certainly taught me to be a ‘jack of all trades’ — which I have found to be important, not just in opening a business, but also in life. My professors and crew leaders were patient people who truly cared about their students’ success, which has instilled in me the sense that as long as I approach any problem with patience and curiosity, I will succeed.”
Robert Leeson Mace
(he/him)
Owner and Co-Founder of The Gear House
Major, Minor, Concentration, Crews
- Outdoor Leadership Major
- Crews: Heavy Duty, Cycling, Outdoor Programs
Ahna Webster
(she/her)
Major, Minor, Concentration, Crews
- Outdoor Business Major
- Crews: Outdoor Programs, Admissions
“The ODL program at Warren Wilson provides invaluable education, hands-on training, and real-world connections that set you up for success—whether you want to start your own business or get your foot in the door with established organizations. I’m incredibly grateful for my experience there and truly believe it’s an excellent path for anyone looking to build a meaningful career in the outdoors.”
Mitchell Wisniewski
(he/him)
Unalakleet River Lodge Owner and Fly-fishing guide with Asheville On The Fly Guide Service
Major, Minor, Concentration, Crews
- Outdoor Leadership Major
- Crew: Outdoor Leadership
Where Our Outdoor Business Graduates Go
Many of our students go on to own and operate their own businesses. Some examples include:
- Astral (Philip Curry ’95)
- The Gear House (Rob Leeson ’16)
- Liberty Bicycles (Claudia ’69 and Mike Nix ’70)
- Unalakleet River Lodge (Mitch Wisniewski ’18 and Skyla Delerme ’17)
